Rail for transporting hangers or carriages and switches therefor



Sept. 16, 1952 c. A. CALDER 2,610,584

' RAIL FOR TRANSPORTING HANGERS 0R CARRIAGES AND SWITCHES THEREFOR Y 5Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1950 INVENTOR. CAESAR A. CALbER- ATTORNEY c.A. CALDER RAIL FOR TRANSPORTING HANGERS OR CARRIAGES AND SWITCHESTHEREFOR Sept. 16, 1952 Filed May 26, 1950 5 5 6 /60;20 I f2 Z726 (755653 z? INVENTOR. CAESAR A. CALDER ATTORNEY P 1952- c. A. CALDER2,610,584 RAIL FOR TRANSPORTING HANGERS 0R CARRIAGES AND SWITCHESTHEREFOR Fil ed-May 26, 1950 :5 Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR. CAESAR A.CALDER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE RAIL.Fort TRANSPORTING HANGERS on I oARaIAGEs AND SWITCHES THEREFOR Caesar A.Calder, Verona, N. J. Application May26, 1950, Serial No. 154,399

9 Claims. (or-104 401) hangers or. carriages and switches therefor.

More particularly, this invention relates to a main line rail on whichhangers or carriagesmay be moved anjdlasecondaryline rail disposed at anangle .to the main line 'rail, and switchvmeans to permithangers'orcarriages to be moved either along themain'line'rail or fromthe secondary line rail to the main line rail, or from the main linerail to the secondary line rail.

Usually the secondary line rail is at a higher level thanthe main linerail. In accordance with the present invention agcu'rved switch railispivoted tothe secondaryline, rail about the axis of thelatter and it hasa tapered endportion adapted to rest on the main line'railflwhensaidswitch rail .is swung down about its pivot, to .permit switching ofhangersor, carriages from the main line to theseccndarynline andback,and said switch rail being swingable upwardly tothe plane or level ofthe secondary line rail and away from the mainline rail to permitmovement ofhangers or carriages along' the main line rail without beingswitched to the secondary line rail.

In accordance with one form of this present invention the switchrail'normally rests on the main line rail butmay be lifted, releasablemeans being provided to retain the switch rail in raised or liftedpositionwhenit isswung upwardly, and

' means being furtherprovided to limit the upward swingingmo'vement ofthe switch rail. In accordance with another form of the invention theswitch rail is biased upwardly away-from the main line. rail' by aspring, means'being provided to limit the upward movement of the switchrail to a horizontal plane, the construction being such that if a hangeror carriag supporting garmerits or any other articles are moved alongthe secondary ,line onto. the switch rail said switch on to the main"line rail, and when weight is removed from the switch rail, said biasingmeans will again raise said switch rail to horizontal posi tion.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a switch rail of thecharacter described comover a tubular main line rail, so as tofacilitate movement of hangers or carriage wheels'from the switch railonto the main line rail and vice versa.

Yet'another object of this invention are provide a strong, rugged anddurable construction of rail, due to the weight imposed'thereon, willdrop 4 to permit said hanger. or carriagev to beswitched th switch rail*2 the character described. which may either be mounted on brackets,supported on a vertical pipe, or which may be mounted on ceilingsuspension sets and which shall be relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, easy to install and shall be sure and positive in operationand yet practical and efficient, to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will, in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in thefeatures of construction,combinations of elements, and. arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the con'struction'hereinaiter described, and of which thescope ofinve'ntionwill be indicated in the following claims:

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown variousillustrativeembodiments of this invention,

, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a rail switch system embodyingtheinvention and showing the switch rail contacting the main line rail;

Fig. 2 is'a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the switching-raillifted;

'Fig. 4 is a partial, top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on 'line 5-5o;fFig.3; f v

Fig. Sis a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; v

'Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view showing the outer end of the switchrail mounted on the main line rail;

Fig. v9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view H!lfl of Fig. 8;' I

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the outer end. or

taken on line Fi 12. is a bottom plan of the switchrail; v

Fig.713fis a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a'modifiedconstruction in which the switch view of the outer end rail can remaineither in a down position resting on the mainline rail or isjreturned inaraised position away from'lthe main line .rail; I

:Fig; 14 isa partial top-view of the construction shown inFig. 13; withparts broken away and in cross-section; v

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line ||5 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the switch system and illustratingone means of supporting the main and secondary line rails by means ofbrackets supported on a pipe; and

Fig. 1'? is a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing the switch systemsupported on ceiling sets.

Referring now in detail to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 16,numeral I9 designates apparatus embodying the invention, comprising avertical supporting stanchion or pipe Attached to the pipe II by meansof. brackets I3 is an outwardly extending arm l4. Thev arm I4 is formedwith a vertical sleeve |5 at its outer end. Extending through the sleeveis an upper screw threaded end portion l5 of a hook shaped support l1.Nuts Iii-a. screwed to the threaded portion l5 serve to adjust theheight of the hook relative to the arm M. The support I! is formed withan offset hook portion l8. having an upwardly extending verticalfingerI9. Also fixed to the pipe H, at a level lower than the arm M, by meansof brackets is an arm 2| extending at right angles to the arm l4. At theouter end of the arm 2| is a vertical sleeve 22'. Extending upwardlythrough said sleeve 22 is the screw threaded portion |6 of another hookshaped member IT. The hook IT has an offset hook portion l8 providedwith. an upwardly extending finger l9 for the purpose hereinafterappearing.

Supported by the support H on the arm I4 is a horizontal secondary linerail 23. The rail 23 comprises a tubular member 24" having an outer end25. Mounted on the outer end of tube 24 is a junction member 25comprising an intermediate cylindrical portion 21 formed at itsunderside with an upwardly extending blind drilled hole 2-8 receivingthe finger IQ of the hook l8 which forms part of the support I! attachedto the arm M. The cylindrical portion 21 is formed with a screw threadedopening 29 communicating with the opening 28 and receiving aset screw 30adapted to press against and clamp the finger i3. Extending from one endof the cylindrical portion 21 is a reduced flange 3|. which fits:within. the

outer end of the tube 2.4. Extending from the.

flange 3| is an axial screw threaded stud 32 pro- ,jectingv axially intothe tube 2.4.. Screwed. on the stud 32 is an internally screw threaded.ferrule 33 having a tapered or conical outer surface 34. Surrounding thestud 32 and part of the ferrule 33 is a longitudinally split sleeve 35having a tapered or conical inner surface 35. The split sleeve 35 isdisposed within the tube 24.. It will now be understood that uponturning member '26 in one direction the ferrule 33 will be movedinwardly toward the flange 3| to expand the split sleeve 35 to press thesame against the inner surface of. the tube 24. The ferrule 33 will be.restrained from turning due to friction with the sleeve. In this mannerthe member 23 may be firmly attached to the secondary rail 24 Extendingfrom the intermediate cylindrical portion 21 in the direction oppositeto the. stud 32 is an axial stud or pin 40... The pin 40 is of greaterlength than the stud 32. and extends in a direction oppositev therefrom.Received on the pin and contacting. one end of said intermediate portion21 is an annular sleeve or ring, 4| having the same outer diameter as.said portion 21. It is formedwith an axial through open: ing 42 throughwhich the pin4|l passes. It is also formed with a radial screw threadedopening 43 to receive a set screw 44 which fixes the member 4| againstrotation relative to member 26. Said member 4| is furthermore formed atits outer end with a portion 45 of somewhat reduced diameter. Fixed tothe outer end of said portion 45 and extending outwardly therefrom is apin 50. The outer end of said portion 45 may be drilled and one end ofthe pin force fitted into the drilled hole as at 5|. Thus the portion 52of the pin projects outwardly therefrom in a direction parallel to theaxis of the stud 40.

Swingingly mounted on the pin or stud 40 is a switch rail 55. Saidswitch rail comprises a tube. having a straight portion 56 at one end,an

intermediate curved portion 51 and a straight outer end 58 at theopposite end. The portion 58 has its outer end 59 received on the flang45. Disposed within the tubular portion 56 is an inner sleeve 60 formedwith a through opening 6| through which the pin or stud 40 passes. Thesleeve 60 is fixed to the tube 56 by means of screws. 63 so that saidsleeve. will rotate with the tube. The end. of the sleeve 60 adjacentthe sleeve 4| is formed with a reduced flange extension 65 contactingsaid sleeve 4| and forming an annular surface 56 spaced from saidportion 45 of the. member 4|. The end 66 of the sleeve 60 is drilled asat GT and inserted therein is one end of a pin 68 which projects fromsaid surface and overlaps the projecting pin portion 52. The pins 58 and50 are equal distances from the axis of the stud or pin 40 so that whenthe switch rail 55 is swung upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction,looking at Figs. 1 and 2, pin 68 will contact pin portion 52 to limitupward movement of the switch rail to a horizontal position in the planeof the secondary rail 23, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. 7

Means is provided to bias the switch rail 55 upwardly to the positionshown in Fig. 2. To

this end there is received on the outer end of the 1 pin or stud 40 acollar 10 fixed thereto by means of a set screw H. Interconnecting thecollar 10 with the outer end 12 of the sleeve 60 is a coil torsionspring 13. One end of the torsion spring is fixed in the collar 10 andis anchored in said position. The opposite end is attached to the sleeve50 which in turn is attached to the tubular portion 56 of the switchrail 55, and the torsion spring tends to move the switch rail 55upwardly and retains the switch rail in its up position.

Referring now to the outer end 58 of the switch rail 55', its undersideis cut away in a planet inclined to the plane of the axis of said switchrail, to form a V-shaped notch I5. The upper side of said end 58 isalsocut away on a plane inclined to the axis of said switch rail to form atop V shaped notch 16. The inclination of the plane of thenotch 15is'greater than the inclination of the plane {of the notch 15'. It willbe noted that the notches 15 31161115 form a. pair of bifurcated ends18- which straddle the pipe or main line rail 85 supported by member I!which is attached to the arm 2'], as shown in the drawing. The pipe 30}is formed-with a pair of shallow drilled openings 8| which underlie thepointed ends of the bifurcated. portions 18.

The mainline rail may comprise a plurality of pipes 801m alignment andthey may be attached together by a joint 85 formed with an opening atits underside to receive the finger IQ of offset support I! which isattached to the arm 21. (The joint 85 may be similar. to theconstruction shown in application of Stephen Speckhart, Serial No.788,853, filed on November 29, 1947 for Flush Coupling Means.) Saidpipes may be supset screw 92.

ported by additional hook shaped suspension members 86. It will now beunderstood that hangers or carriages may move along the main line rail80 without being disturbed by the switch rail whichis in an up position;However, if a hanger or a carriage moves from the secondary line rail onto the switch rail 55, said switchrail will be depressed due totheweight of the hanger or carriage, to the position shown in Fig. 1 and inthe full line position of- Fig. 16 so that the may be switched on tothe.

carriage or hanger main line rail.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 therexis shown a modified form of the inventionwhich may betermed a single switch system. In this construction there islikewise provided a secondary line: rail 24 mounted on a support I!which engages the portion 2! of a member.- 26.' Member 26 is likewiseFixed to the adjacent end of-t-he sleeve E is a, pin 98 havinga roundedprojecting portion 99 overlapping the rounded portion 91. The switchrai1 55 in the modification of Figs. 13, l land 15 rests on the mainline rail. However, it may be swungupwardly and when that is done'theprojecting rounded pin portion 99 contacts the projecting rounded pinportion 91, thereby moving the switch rail 55 to the left, looking atFig. 13,

against pressure ofspring 93, a sufiicient distance to permit the pin 99to bypass thepin 97, atwhich time the switch rail is moved to the rightby spring 93. When the pin 99 strikes the pin 95 further upward movementof the switch rail is prevented. When the switch rail is thenreleased,

pin portion 99 will contact the opposite side of the pin 91 and theswitch rail will remain in a horizontal plane at the level of thesecondary rail. The compression spring 93 keeps the sleeve 60 biasedtoward member 41. When the switch rail 55 is in its up position, garmenthangers or carriages may be switched in either direction along the mainline rail. When it is desired, to switch hangers or carriages from thesecondary line rail on the main line rail, member 55 is swung downwardlythereby pressing the switch rail to the left and pressing the spring 93to permit rounded pin 99 to bypass rounded pin 91. Then theswitch railwill drop until its outer end contacts the main line rail. In suchposition garment hangers or carriages may be switched either from thesecondary line rail to the main line rail, or vice versa.

The switch rails may extend in either direction, that is, either to theleft as shown in Fig.

16, or to the right as shown in Fig. 17. Furthermore, instead ofsupporting the main line rail and the secondary rail by means of avertical supporting rod and arms, said rails may be supported by meansof hook members I! attached to brackets I00 attached to the lower endsof pipes As various possible embodiments might be made of the aboveinvention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment aboveset forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinset forth orshown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I-claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to oneend of saidrail and provided with a stud extending in the direction away from therail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having one endreceiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switch rail,and said stud being journalled and slidable in saidsleeve and extendingtherebyond, a collar on the outer end of said stud and a springinterposed between said collar and adjacent end of said sleeve, and

:rounded pins fixed relative to the opposite end of said sleeve and saidmember, respectively, positioned'to contact and bypass each other uponswinging said switch rail about the axis of said stud, and said springpermitting longitudinal movement of said switch rail relative to saidstud as said pins bypass each other.

' 2. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to one end ofsaid rail and provided with a stud extending-in the direction away'fromthe .rail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having oneend receiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switchrail, and said stud being journalled in said sleeve, a collar on theouter end of said stud and a spring interposed between said collar andsaid sleeve,a pin attached to said member and being offset from saidstud! and a pin fixed to said sleeve and being offset from said stud andoverlapping the first pin, and being adapted to contact said first-pinupon rotating said switch rail and sleeve relative to said stud.

3. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to one end of saidrail and provided with a stud extending in. the direction away from therail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having one endreceiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switch rail,and said stud being journalled in said sleeve, a collar on the outer endof said stud and a spring interposed between said collar and saidsleeve, a pin attached to said member and being oiTset from said stud,and a pin fixed to said sleeve and being offset from said stud andoverlapping the first pin, and being adapted to contact said first pinupon rotating said switch rail and sleeve relative to said stud, saidpins having rounded ends so that upon rotating said switch rail and saidsleeve relative to said stud, the pin on the sleeve may bypass the pinon said member, thereby causing the switch rail to move longitudinallyof the stud and compressing said spring. v v

l 4. In combination, a tubular rail, a member attached to one end ofsaid rail and provided with a stud extending in the direction away fromthe rail and being coaxial therewith, a tubular switch rail having oneend receiving said stud, a sleeve fixed within said end of said switchrail, and said stud being journalled in said sleeve, a collar on theouter end of said stud and a spring interposed between said collar andsaid sleeve, a pin attached to said member and being ofiset from saidstud, and a pin fixed to said sleeve and being offset from said stud andoverlapping the first pin, and being adapted to contact said first pinupon rotating said switch rail and sleeve relative to said stud,

said pinszhavingrounded. ends; sorthatiuponrotating saidswitch v.railandisaid'.sleeverelativez to: said stud, the-.pin...on1the. sleeve :maybypass. the;

pinionsaid member, thereby causing thaswitch rail .to.movelongitudinally f. the stud and com-- pressing. saidcspring;and...a:second1 pin fixedv to. said member and spaced from the firstpin'there.- of andadaptedto beicontactediby the pinch said sleeve to limit.angular movement'of said switch rail andsaid sleeve relative to saidstud.

5. In combinationwithamainline rail and a horizontal secondary raildisposed at. a level highenthan. the. main line rail, a'swit'ch railhaving an intermediate curved: portion and: straight end portions,one:.end of said switch rail being pivoted coaxially to Oneendoflthesecondary line rail, and the, other endofsaidswitchrail beingmovable into; engagementwithlthe: main line rail, and

said-switchrailcbeing swingable upwardly to the horizontaLplane of thsecondary line rail, said switch railbeing tubular. and said main linerail being tubular and theend of the switch rail which is adapted to.contact: themainlinearail being cut away at its upperand lower. sides onplanes lin clinedto. the planeof'said. switch rail, thereby forming apair of bifurcated ends. adapted to straddle.themainlinerail.

6. In combination; with; a mainline rail and ahorizontal.secondary'rail: disposed at a level higher. than. the mainline rail, a switch rail having an. intermediate). curved portion andstraight end. portions, one; end. of said switch rail being: pivoted.coaxially to one end of the secondary'linerail, and the. other; end ofsaid switch rail. being movable. into engagement with the mainlinerail,and said switch rail being swingable. upwardly to;the horizontal planeofthe secondaryline; rail, said switch rail being tubular and-.saidmainline rail beingtubular and the end. of the switch rail which is adaptedto contact the main line rail being cut away at its upper and;lowersides. on planes inclined to the plane of said switchrail; therebyforming a pair of bifurcatedends adapted to straddle the main line rail,themain line. railibeing formed, with shallowrecesses underlying thepointed ends of said" bifurcated portions;

7. Incombination, a tubular rail, a member proyided withclutch means toengage one end of said. tubular rail, said: member having an out-'-wardly extending stud, a tubular switch rail hav--' yond said sleeve, acollar. fixed: to the outer end 8?. otsaid stud,apzcoillcompressioncspringinterposed". between. the: collar: andthe.sleeve, releasable; means to; retain; saidrswitch. rail. in one;angular; positionand. means:.to,positively; limit; movement" of.tl'ieswitchv raiL relative: to; said member inanother;angulanpositiomoisaid switch rail- 8. In;combinationgaisecondary line; rai]..pr0-.- vided: witnan axial. stud, .atubular. switch .rail. having an intermediate: curved portion; andstraight. end portions;v oneend portion of: the switcnrail receivingsaid stud, a: sleeve within said end of said switch rail and fixedthereto and slidably receiving saidtstud, spring means'to presssaid;switchmailxtoward: said: secondary rail, themain-line..railbeing'ata levelibelow the second-- ary line rail and?atan angle thereto, and the opposite-endofisaid.switch rail beingadapted to engage said mainline-rail when said switch rail is" swungdownwardly, and said" opposite end of said switch rail being movableaway from the main linerail .upon swinging the switch rail up-- wardlyabout the axis of' the said stud.

9. In combination; a secondary line-rail provided. with an axial' stud,a tubular switch rail havingan intermediate curved portion and straightand portions, one end portion of the switch rail receiving said stud, asleeve within said end of saidswitch rail and" fixed thereto, springmeans to-press said switch rail toward said secondary rail, the mainline" rail at a level below the secondary line-= rail and at an anglethereto, and the opposite end of said switch rail being engageable withsaid main linerail when said switch rail is-swung downwardly; and saidopposite-end of said switch rail being'movable away from the 'main linerail upon swinging the switch rail upwardly-about the axis' of saidstud, and means to retain said switch rail in raised condition, andmeans to limit upward swinging movement of said switch rail relative tosaid seccondary line rail;

CAESAR A. CALDER.

REEEBENGES CITED The following'referencesare of record in the file ofthis. patent:

UNITED STATES: PATENTS Number Name Date 631,687 Whaley Aug. 22', 1899845,912 Watkins Mar. 5, 1907 2,511,027 Werner June 13, 1950 IEORFEIGN.PATENTS Number Country Date.

325,573 Germany Nov. 22; 1919.

